The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 has come to an end with Australia emerging victorious, clinching a 3-1 series win over India in the five-match contest. The series was highly anticipated, especially with the stakes being high for India as they needed a strong performance to secure a place in the World Test Championship 2023-25 final. However, despite the excitement, India’s senior players, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, faced criticism for their underwhelming performances.
Sanjay Manjrekar suggests radical steps for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
Following the series, a former Indian cricketer turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar criticized the selection committee, urging them to take decisive steps regarding the future of senior players like Rohit and Kohli. With India’s next Test assignment being a challenging five-match series against England in June 2025, after the Champions Trophy 2025, questions loom over the readiness of these experienced players.
Manjrekar said the upcoming series in England will be challenging for Virat due to swinging balls outside the off stump referencing the batter’s weak point throughout the series against Australia. and also added that if both Virat and Rohit wish to continue playing, and the selectors support them, they should play county cricket to prove their readiness, he emphasized that retirement is a personal decision, while dropping players is the selectors’ responsibility.
“The next series is not going to be easy for Virat as in England, it will be more or less the same. There will be swinging balls outside the off stump. But if both Rohit and Virat intend to continue, and the selectors want to back them, I would like to see both of them play county cricket and convince the people who will take the big call whether they are ready. Retirement is up to the individual while leaving people out is up to the selectors,” Manjrekar said while speaking on Star Sports.
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Underperforming stars: Kohli and Rohit fail to deliver
Kohli and Rohit were expected to lead the charge in this crucial series, especially with India’s aspirations to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship 2025 final. Kohli’s century in the first Test at Perth gave hope to Indian fans, as he seemed to regain some form. However, his performance drastically declined thereafter. In the remaining four matches, Kohli managed only 85 runs, accumulating a total of just 190 runs in the series, a far cry from his usual standards. Similarly, Rohit’s performance was dismal. The Indian captain played in only three matches, scoring a meager 31 runs, which added to the frustration of the fans and analysts alike.